KB Biola Broadcaster - 1971-06

only to dispense the "know-how," but are to engage in on-the-job training in visiting homes and mak­ ing a personal witness. Evangelist Billy Graham, a Warm and personal friend to many Ne­ groes, was a featured speaker at the Congress. At a press confer­ ence at the Muehlebach Hotel in Kansas City he said, "The church was born in the midst of evangel­ ism and revival, and if it is to main­ tain its power and spirit fervor, it must concentrate its efforts here. I don't think anything could bring our two races together in a closer spirit of unity." Silence was a rarity during the three days of the Congress. Char­ acteristic of blacks is high-spirited and rhythmic music, and the church echoed and re-echoed with "A- mens." Some showed approval by waving a hand in the air, others by nodding affirmation. It seemed to have been contagious, for the voices of white Christians were al­ so heard with loud "A-mens," and other white faces carried a smile. A bearded Caucasian gentleman in the rear shouted, "Right on!!' Each found his own way to say, "I'm getting the message."

"I am convinced," said the di­ rector of the Congress, Pastor Ed­ ward V. Hill of Watts, Los Angeles, "that we are not going to build a better social order with lost peo­ ple. We in the black community are disturbed by the fact that the percentage of lost souls is on the increase. You're not going to have a world in which to enjoy your civ­ il rights, with a lost community." It was the first Congress on Evangelism in the Western hemis­ phere to be planned and directed by black Christian leadership. Al­ though oriented toward black peo­ ple, the spirit of the Congress was that of burden bearers seeking to preach the Gospel to all men ev­ erywhere. Four words were heard repeatedly from the speakers' ros­ trum, and were considered indis­ pensable by the Christians pres­ ent: "repent," "together," "evan­ gelization" and "now." One of the high moments of the Congress came when a former member of the Black Panther par­ ty, James Weston, gave his testi­ mony to the saving power of Jesus Christ. "I came to the point," he said, "where I could no longer crit­ icize either whites or blacks. I had to face the truth about myself." For him Christianity proved to be not an arrow but a boomerang. Mr. Weston is now engaged in a full-time evangelistic ministry among the black militants of the San Francisco Bay area. Dr. D. James Kennedy, pastor of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, pre­ sented the "how" of getting the job done. He made it clear that his method requires the ministers' ac­ tive participation. Pastors are not

Color was an important and in­ teresting factor but not a barrier. It was a great sight to look upon, for the races were together as a unit. The link was what Pastor Hill described as "the common de­ nominator of Jesus Christ." Is it any wonder that the Congress was a complete success? The white brother and the black brother left Kansas City to return to their evan­ gelistic fields with the challenge ringing in their ears: "Go and bring all you can, but go!" From Decision Magazine, © 1970 by The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association Page 7

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